Mars!

Got the following message from Dr. Mel Peterson, retired Augie faculty member, that I thought I would pass on to my astronomy-minded readers:

"To all

Look to the east tonight about 7:00 pm and you will see the full moon, the largest full moon of 2010. Look carefully to the left and you should see a bright reddish 'star' .... You are looking at the planet Mars, not just a star. Tonight Mars is closer to earth than it will be for the next 26 months. With a good telescope you would be able to see the north polar ice cap on the planet. With a very large scope and a great imagination you might be able to “see” the now stationary Mars explorer Spirit. It is now trapped in sandy soil and scientists have given up after a 9 month effort to get it unstuck. Its companion Opportunity on the other side of the planet still seems to be working....

As the night goes on Mars and the Moon will move higher in the sky and should be visible most of the night. If there are no clouds.

Mel"